A February 2 purse bid hearing has been scheduled to settle the long-ago-ordered Callum Smith-David Morrell Jnr WBO interim light heavyweight title fight.
The development was confirmed by WBO president Gustavo Olivieri just days after the public was informed that the bout was back on the purse bid circuit. The session will be conducted from WBO headquarters in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
All promoters registered with the sanctioning body are permitted to participate, providing they submit a minimum $300,000 bid.
Warriors Boxing, Morrell’s promoter, called for the matter to head back to a purse bid after the ordered bout had lingered for months without a confirmed fight date.
Smith, 31-2 (22 KOs) from Liverpool, U.K., holds the secondary version of the WBO 175lbs title but has not fought since dethroning countryman Joshua Buatsi last February 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The same show was headlined by the Dmitry Bivol-Artur Beterbiev undisputed light heavyweight championship rematch, won by Bivol, 24-1 (12 KOs), via majority decision to avenge his lone defeat and leave as the fully unified light heavyweight king.
The fact that Smith hasn’t fought since that night completely invalidates the point of holding an interim title. This fight not yet getting over the line is further proof that the secondary belt has not been properly utilized.
In fact, Bivol is now on course to return to the ring and defend his lineal, Ring, WBA, IBF and WBO belts before this fight makes its way to the schedule.
Smith-Morrell was ordered last July, shortly after Morrell, 12-1 (9 KOs), returned to the win column with a hard-fought 10-round decision win over unbeaten Imam Khataev. The bout took place on a Ring Magazine show last July 12 in Queens, New York. The event was financed by publication owner and Riyadh Season head Turki Alalshikh, with whom Matchroom Boxing – Smith’s promoter – enjoys a stellar relationship.
Alalshikh, the sport’s top power broker, was prepared to have the fight land on a Riyadh Season show planned for March. Former two-time unified heavyweight titlist Anthony Joshua was due to headline the card but is understandably no longer able to return to the ring as he continues to grieve the loss of two close friends and team members in a fatal car crash last month in Nigeria.
Smith-Morrell was ordered last July, shortly after Morrell’s narrow victory over Khataev. The matter was met with several delays, postponements and even the promise of a reached agreement – the latter coming at a time when the March Riyadh Season card was still in play.
